NCDMV CDL Handbook

Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System

2.8.4 – Always Have a Plan

Possible distractions that could occur outside a moving vehicle: outside traffic, vehicles or pedestrians; outside events such as police pulling someone over or a crash scene; sunlight/sunset; objects in roadway; road construction; reading billboards or other road advertisements; and many others. The Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) reported that 8 percent of large-truck crashes occurred when Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) drivers were externally distracted and 2 percent of large truck crashes occurred when the driver was internally distracted. Approximately 5,500 people are killed each year on U.S. roadways and an estimated 448,000 are injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted driving (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts: Distracted Driving). Research indicates that the burden of talking on a cell phone - even if it's hands-free - saps the brain of 39% of the energy it would ordinarily devote to safe driving. Drivers who use a hand-held device are more likely to get into a crash serious enough to cause injury. (NHTSA distracted driving website, www.distraction.gov). Effects of distracted driving include slowed perception, which may cause you to be delayed in perceiving or completely fail to perceive an important traffic event; delayed decision making and improper action, which can cause you to be delayed in taking the proper action or make incorrect inputs to the steering, accelerator or brakes. 2.9.1 – The Distracted Driving Crash Problem 2.9.2 – Effects of Distracted Driving There are many causes of distraction, all with the potential to increase risk. Physical distraction – one that causes you to take your hands off the wheel or eyes off the road, such as reaching for an object. Mental distraction – activities that take your mind away from the road, such as engaging in conversation with a passenger or thinking about something that happened during the day. Both physical and mental distraction – even greater chance a crash could happen, such as talking on a cell phone; or sending or reading text messages. 2.9.3 – Types of Distractions

You should always be looking for hazards. Continue to learn to see hazards on the road. However, don't forget why you are looking for the hazards--they may turn into emergencies. You look for the hazards in order to have time to plan a way out of any emergency. When you see a hazard, think about the emergencies that could develop and figure out what you would do. Always be prepared to take action based on your plans. In this way, you will be a prepared, defensive driver who will improve your own safety as well as the safety of all road users.

Subsections 2.7 and 2.8 Test Your Knowledge

1.

How do you find out how many seconds of following distance space you have? If you are driving a 30-foot vehicle at 55 mph, how many seconds of following distance should you allow? You should decrease your following distance if somebody is following you too closely. True or False? If you swing wide to the left before turning right, another driver may try to pass you on the right. True or False?

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5. 6.

What is a hazard?

Why make emergency plans when you see a hazard?

These questions may be on the test. If you can’t answer them all, re-read subsections 2.7 and 2.8

2.9 – Distracted Driving A driver distraction is anything that takes your attention away from driving. Whenever you are driving a vehicle and your full attention is not on the driving task, you are putting yourself, your passengers, other vehicles, and pedestrians in danger. Distracted driving can cause collisions, resulting in injury, death or property damage. Activities inside of the vehicle that can distract your attention include: talking to passengers; adjusting the radio, CD player or climate controls; eating, drinking or smoking; reading maps or other literature; picking up something that fell; talking on a cell phone or CB radio; reading or sending text messages; using any type of telematic or electronic devices (such as navigation systems, pagers, personal digital assistant, computers, etc.); daydreaming or being occupied with other mental distractions; and many others.

Section 2 – Driving Safely

Page 2-21

Version: July 2017